Tony Frochio picks up trash at Father Marinaro Park last week. He says recent vandalism hasn't hurt his enthusiasm for cleaning up the park and other neighborhoods in the city. But Cindy Parker of Lyndora, whose South Side Park group is trying to make the park a safe environment, worries supporters will get discouraged if the vandalism continues.

The reported admission of two of the three suspects accused of causing more than $16,000 worth of damage to the Father Marinaro Park's skate park won't lessen efforts of community activists to clean and improve it.

“Washboard” Tony Frochio of Butler still picks up trash daily at the park and recently donated five trash cans and signs for the skate park.

Cindy Parker of Lyndora is still working with her group, South Side Park Group, to make Father Marinaro Park a safe environment.

Her latest effort is convincing a provider to make WiFi available in the park as a first step to installing security cameras.

“I want people to know this is a nice park. I think if people want to help out that would be nice. One person can't do everything,” said Frochio.

“It's the only skateboard park around, and we are trying to maintain it and keep it safe,” he said.

Frochio, a local musician, said he's been cleaning the park for years, ever since he found needles around the skate board park area.

He even formed a local cleanup initiative called Operation: Butler Pickup, a volunteer street-cleaning effort to tackle cleaning up various neighborhoods in Butler each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

The vandalism of the skate park Aug. 9 occurred just days after two of Cindy Parker's sons had repainted the concession stand.

Parker said what was more harmful than the vandalism done to the building, fence and ramps was the damage to people's minds and attitudes.

“We are obsessing over the dollar amount. But why are we looking at damages in the first place?” she asked.

“I'm worried that people are going to question if they should keep donating their resources if this is going to keep happening,” said Parker.

“Don't call this graffiti,” Parker said of the most recent spray painting. “Graffiti is making a beautiful mural. This was because they were bored.

“Or they were angry that we painted over their marks,” she said. “It was like dogs marking their territory.”

“I'm really glad they got them. They (the police) got good information. The one was not shy about writing his name and initials over everything.”

Parker and Frochio have different ideas about how to prevent future vandalism.

Frochio said the park lights need to be turned off earlier.

“They keep the lights on at night. I don't think that's a good idea. People come out and stay all night and party down there,” he said.

Parker thinks turning the lights off might cause more damage.

“They keep the lights on to midnight. Vandalism goes up when the lights go out. It's like having security lights on at a house,” she said.

Neither are discouraged, however.

Parker said she has a group willing to install security cameras at the park once she can convince someone to provide the park with WiFi.

Frochio said, “I don't feel discouraged. I'm a cancer survivor. I just want to give back to the city.”